“A Catholic country”

The midwife manager on St Monica’s Ward at Galway University Hospital has confirmed that she told Savita Halappanavar that a termination could not be carried out because Ireland was a “Catholic country”.

Giving evidence to the Coroner, Ann Maria Burke said:

“She had mentioned the Hindu faith and that in India a termination would be possible”. She said the remark had “come out the wrong way and I’m sorry that I said it…I was trying to be as broad and explanatory as I could. It was nothing to do with medical care at all.”

Pro-life groups such as the American funded Youth Defence have stringently denied that the ‘this is a Catholic country’ phrase was ever used during Savita’s last days.

A most peculiar operation done by mad catholic doctors. At last it looks like these women will get some justice. Morrissey, J. The Murder of Infants? Symphysiotomy in Ireland 1944-66 in History Ireland Issue 5 (Sept/Oct 2012) Vol 20, at http://www.historyireland.com/volumes/vol20/?id=115568